Taylor confident Swansea have top-10 squad

Swansea City defender Neil Taylor has tipped Michael Laudrup’s team for another top-10 finish this season as he hailed squad strength.

The Welsh side have enjoyed a hugely successful pre-season in which they have won all of their seven friendlies as well as earning a place in the UEFA Europa League play-off round with a 4-0 aggregate win over Malmo.

Laudrup helped Swansea finish ninth last term in only their second campaign in the Premier League and Taylor believes the depth of the Dane’s squad gives the club big advantage over their rivals.

“We’ve got a top-10 squad,” the Welsh defender told the South Wales Evening Post.

“This is such a strong squad — I’d say it is up there in the top half of the Premier League because if a man comes out, you can be comfortable with whoever comes in.

“We’ve probably got another XI really. You saw in the two European games that Garry Monk didn’t appear, and when has he ever let the club down when he’s played?

“That shows how highly-rated our team should be at the moment.”

Taylor, who will be hoping for a regular berth after making just six league appearances last season, is also delighted by the additions Laudrup has made in the close-season, with former Liverpool player Jonjo Shelvey and Wilfried Bony, who scored 31 goals in 30 Eredivisie starts last season, moving to the Liberty Stadium.